KOLKATA, 24 JULY: The city police will soon use battery-operated cars to patrol the recently renovated Hooghly riverfront. The city police will get two environment-friendly cars costing around Rs 3.5 lakh each from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). Officers of the city police will use the cars to patrol the stretch of the riverfront from Prinsep Ghat to Outram Ghat, which is adjacent to Strand Road. Recently, three police kiosks have been set up in this stretch of the riverfront. Police felt it was essential to patrol the area frequently to avoid untoward incidents here which is one of the dream projects of chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Miss Banerjee had stressed the need for riverfront beautification as she wants Kolkata to be a major tourist attraction. On 28 December 2011, KMC had started the riverfront beautification work at Armenian Ghat and the estimated cost of the entire project was pegged at Rs 26 crore. The police were in a fix as it is not possible to patrol the area in big cars as the path in the recently beautified riverfront is narrow and it would also lead to environmental hazards. Finally, they decided to patrol the area on environment-friendly battery-operated cars. The city police use the same type of cars at Victoria Memorial Hall. A police officer said they, more often than not, find local youths involved in anti-social activities. Besides, vagrants take shelter in the newly set up chairs in the riverfront. This stretch of the riverfront has become one of the favourite haunts of tourists. Many eminent persons have also started visiting the place after it was given a new look. Visitors will feel uncomfortable if they find people consuming ganja and alcohol at the riverfront. Thus, continuous vigil is required and a car is essential as it is not possible to patrol the entire stretch on foot, the officer said. Mr Mehbub Rahman, DC (port), said the cars will be available by next week. Beside keeping vigil on the riverfront it would also help prevent people from attempting suicide by jumping into the Hooghly.